In the Shadow of Evil (24 page)

Layla and Alana, along with three or four others, knelt in front of Mrs. Page. All were crying. All had their eyes closed but were whispering.

Had something happened to Stone? No, that couldn't be it. Alana appeared too together for it to be her fiancé.

Suddenly those kneeling stood and helped Mrs. Page to her feet. Two young men flanked her as they shuffled from the waiting room.

Mrs. Page paused in front of Maddox. Her eyes were red and puffy. Tears still glistened in them. "How's your father?"

"They released him." He smiled, remembering his father's words this morning. Even if it was the medication that caused Pop to speak as he did, Maddox would carry the memory in his heart.

"I'll keep praying for him." She nodded and allowed the young men to guide her to the elevator.

Maddox's gaze drifted to Layla, who stood and joined him just inside the waiting room. "Her husband died a few moments ago."

She'd just lost her husband, but the lady had taken the time to inquire about his father's health. "That's awful."

"It is. But she'll be okay. She's strong in her faith, and her two grandsons arrived this morning to stay with her."

What did faith have to do with losing someone? Someone you loved with all your heart? Did faith comfort you when you missed the person with every ounce of your being? Did faith stop the guilt or regret?

Layla took his hand and pulled him into the hallway. "It's not looking good for Cameron. The doctors are talking about getting him stable enough to transport him to Baton Rouge's hospital. It has a specialized burn unit."

He glanced through the window at Alana talking with some of the others. She was still crying. He couldn't imagine what she was going through.

"About Mr. James's illness . . . the hospital called in a specialist from the CDC. Not that it'll do Ms. Ethel or Mr. James any good, but maybe they can help Pastor."

"Who? What?" The CDC?

"Our pastor. He was admitted yesterday afternoon. Same symptoms—nose bleeding, not being able to breathe, coughing uncontrollably, then loss of consciousness." Layla kept her voice low, so he had to bend closer to hear her clearly. "The doctors called in a specialist from the CDC. He got here this morning. He's running some tests on Pastor—a gas chromatography, carboxyhemoglobin test, whatever those are."

If the pastor was admitted, then the connection
had
to be the church. Layla had been right. "Maybe the specialist will figure everything out."

"I hope so. We've been praying." She glanced over her shoulder. "Having the church members around praying for Cameron has helped Alana tremendously. She's holding up really well."

He studied Alana through the window and had to admit Layla was right. Alana looked poised and . . . peaceful.

How was that? Her fiancé was going to be transported to a special hospital, might not even make it, and she looked at peace. Was that faith? Prayers? What if all this—?

Alana rushed from the waiting room, holding out her cell phone as if it were a dead rat. Her eyes were wide and her face pale. "Layla, Maddox. You have to see this text message!"

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Layla reached out for Alana and drew her into a sideways hug. "What is it, honey?"

Her sister trembled in her arms as she handed her a cell phone. "Here. Read. For. Yourself."

Keeping her arm around Alana, Layla hit a button to bring the backlight up. Her heart thudded as she read:

tell UR sister 2 stop with the ?s R next time it wont B a bldg blown

Layla's world tilted as her knees went weak. She tightened her grip on her sister, more to keep herself upright. "M-M—"

Maddox took the phone from her and repeated her actions. His brows shot into his forehead, and he lifted his gaze to meet hers, then looked at Alana. "Do you know this number? The one that sent the text?"

She shook her head. "I've never seen it before."

He looked at Layla. "Do you?"

"No."

He pocketed the phone in the front hip pocket of his jeans. "I need to take this for evidence."

Alana nodded and wrapped her arms around her stomach. Layla could relate—she felt sick to her stomach herself.

"Who's your service through?" he asked Alana.

She rattled off the name although she continued to shake against Layla.

His stare penetrated Layla. "I'll get Houston on this immediately." He reached out and squeezed her hand, providing her a moment's comfort. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." Maddox ran to the elevator.

Layla tightened her hold on Alana as she led her to the waiting room and eased them both to a couch. The enormity of it all slapped against her.

The bomb at Second Chances was
her
fault. She'd been asking questions that made someone angry enough to blow up a building.

With her sister inside.

Layla's body stiffened and she bit her bottom lip. Tears burned her eyes, and sobs tore inside her. She jumped to her feet, mumbled about having to go to the restroom, then made a quick getaway.

Once inside the bathroom, she shut herself in a stall and hugged herself, rocking.

Oh, God . . . oh, God . . . oh, God.
Cameron could die, and it'd be all her fault. Because she'd asked the wrong questions. Or too many questions. Or questions period.

The home she'd grown up in was no more, and she was to blame. Her sister was injured and could lose the man she loved, and Layla was solely responsible.

Sobs exploded from her, destroying her control like the bomb had destroyed their lives. She continued rocking herself, pushing her fist against her mouth.
Oh, God, what have I done? Please forgive me. Help Alana to forgive me.
She doubled over.
God, help Cameron forgive me.

TWENTY-THREE

"For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future."

—JOHN F. KENNEDY

"I'LL GET RIGHT ON this. Keep her cell until I can get copies of the records." Houston's excitement came through the phone.

Maddox stepped outside the hospital's main entrance. The wind was still cold, cutting through him. "Planned on it."

"This could be our break. Aren't you glad you're still gonna be in the thick of things and not behind some stupid desk?"

Maddox stared at the people rushing to and from the parking lot and considered his partner's words. He wouldn't turn this case over to anyone. If he were commander, he wouldn't be tracking down leads, catching the bad guys. Speaking of bad guys . . . "Houston, we have to provide protection for Layla and Alana." If something happened to her . . . or Alana . . . "This message is a warning."

"I'll run protection detail by the commander, but you know how that is. There hasn't been a threat made to them personally. Not by name."

Maddox's muscles knotted. "Come on, you know that message is a threat against them. The bomb was a clear threat that this person means business. Layla was digging around—"

"Interfering in a murder investigation."

"Yeah, but she was just trying to get answers. She didn't—"

"I know all that, Maddox. I'm just giving the argument the commander will. You know how he feels about a
wasted use of police officers.
"

Maddox steeled his grip on his cell. "I get that. But we can't leave them out there without protection. Even if the commander doesn't approve it."

Houston's chuckle was barely audible.

"What?" This wasn't funny. This was Layla's life.

"That cat-and-dog thing again."

Maddox leaned against the cold brick wall, not even slightly amused. "While I appreciate you trying to develop a sense of humor, isn't our motto
to serve and protect?
Did you miss the
protect
part, Houston?"

"No. I'm laughing at you, not the situation."

"Well, why don't you get busy getting those phone records so we can find out who sent the message?"

"Aye, aye, captain." The amusement was back in Houston's voice.

Maddox shut the phone and headed back into the hospital. Houston didn't mean anything. He'd used his warped sense of humor many times over the years to lessen the tension they felt when working a murder case. But this was Layla.

He didn't have to wait for an elevator. He stepped inside and punched the floor for the ICU. He couldn't explain what his deal was about Layla. Didn't even want to try. There was just some feeling—not a stupid cat-and-dog analogy that made no sense, but . . . something. The way she was so strong when she needed to be, yet so soft and caring at the same time. He'd never met a woman like her.

He strode off the elevator and paused outside the ICU waiting room. Layla sat with Alana, who looked different . . . off . . . broken. Her body language screamed defeat—from the slouched posture to the way she kept her head ducked.

Chills fused his spine. Had they gotten another threat?

He entered the waiting room in clipped steps. "Have you heard anything else?"

Alana looked up first. She had tear tracks down her face. "They're preparing Cameron for transport. They'll airlift him as soon as they can."

But she didn't look as peaceful as she had before. "That's good, right?"

"Yes, it's very good for him to get specialized care."

Layla jerked to her feet. "Tell her she's free to go to Baton Rouge to be with Cameron. She thinks because of that text message, she has to stay."

Normally she'd be correct. But these were extenuating circumstances if Maddox had ever seen any. Her fiancé could die—of course, she should be with him. "Alana, you can go. I just need to keep your cell phone." And if she was out of town, she'd be safer. Out of reach from the bomber.

"See, I told you." Layla nodded, becoming animated again. "You can get a flight and be on a plane this afternoon."

"Cheaper to drive, and I'd get there just as fast."

Layla frowned. "I don't think you're in any shape to drive. Especially alone."

"Then come with me."

Looking at him, Layla shook her head. "I don't think I can."

Conflict warred in his mind. On one hand, she'd be out of town, away from the threat and where she couldn't probe. On the other hand, she'd be out of town, where he couldn't protect her. And she was the strongest lead they had. The bomb was a message to her. A very deadly threat.

Before he could answer, Layla sighed. "Alana, I can't go. Not right now."

Alana had fresh tears. "I shouldn't either. There's so much that needs to be done at the retreat."

Layla wrapped an arm around her sister's shoulders. "You go and be with Cameron. Fred will take care of Second Chances."

"I can't let him take the responsibility."

"Yes, you can, and you will. That's why you hired him. It's his job." She squeezed Alana and then released her. "It's the most logical choice." Layla took a step back. "But I still don't want you driving."

Alana crossed her arms over her chest. "It's the most logical choice."

Maddox swallowed the grin tingling his lips. Alana had gotten her sister with her own words. Much like George often got Maddox.

Layla looked to Maddox. "What's your thought?"

Did she really just ask his opinion? He threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Hey, I have no dogs in this fight."

She narrowed her eyes at him but smiled.

"I'm going to go." Alana widened her stance, cocking out her hip. "And I'm going to drive."

"Alana—"

"No. This is what I'm going to do." She grabbed her purse from the waiting room couch. "I'll call you tonight with my hotel information." She snapped her fingers. "I don't want to take the time to get a new cell phone, so I'll just call from the hotel."

Layla shook her head and yanked her cell off her hip and handed it to her sister. "I don't want you traveling without a cell. Take mine. I'll be fine without it."

"But you use your cell for business."

"Take it." Layla shoved the flip phone toward her sister. "I'll check the office voice mail every couple of hours."

Alana took the cell, then leaned over and kissed Layla's cheek. "Thanks. I love you."

"Drive carefully. Call me as soon as you get to the hotel so I'll know you made it okay." Layla's face was laced with concern, almost parental in appearance.

Like his mom had looked at him every time he'd taken the car and left the house.

His chest constricted. Why did he have to think about that now?

"I will." Alana smiled at him. "Thanks, Maddox." She glanced back at her sister. "You were right—he's not as bad as I'd thought." Then she stepped into the elevator.

What had Layla said about him? He cut his gaze to Layla only to find she avoided eye contact. And she was blushing!

Cats and dogs?